Cleaning device



Oct. 17, 1939. A. GOULET 2,176,069

CLEANING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1938 147736469 goazemvzm-on ATTO R N EYS Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEANING DEVICE Amedee Goulet, New Bedford, Mass.

Application J lly 18, 1938', Serial No. 219,890

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for cleaning the spaces in cavities between the teeth and for extracting food particles, food tissue or the like from between the teeth and more particularly to a highly eflicient and santitary instrument or holder adapted to hold a flexible band or thread whereby the latter may be inserted between the teeth.

Another object of my invention is to provide a high serviceable holder equipped with means whereby an ordinary flexible band or thread may be quickly secured thereon to provide means for cleaning the teeth and which band may be quickly removed if broken or unclean and replaced.

A special object of my invention is to provide an efficient and santitary holder for an elastic rubber band equipped with means whereby a section of said rubber band may be held in stretched and projected position with respect to the main part of the holder to permit convenient insertion and movement of the band between the teeth.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character so constructed and arranged as to release tension on said band when the device is not in use, thereby prolonging the lifeof the band.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a holder for a cleaning element which is so constructed and arranged that the vibration developed upon use in cleaning the'teeth and imparted thereto by the cleaning element serves to impart an axial rotary movement to the cleaning element thereby permitting said cleaning element to present a narrow plane into the cavities between the teeth.

An important object of my invention is topro vide a device of the above described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efiicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1' is a front elevation of my invention, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of my invention illustrating the flexible member or band in stretched condition ready for use.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 1 and illustrating the flexible member in retracted position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the modified form of pivot mounting.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a modified form of the invention. a

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 8--8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of another modification of my invention. 1

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the modified form illustrated in Figure 9.

In practicing my'invention, in the preferred #5 embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, I provide a holder 5 comprising an elongated body which is preferably made of a hard rubber Bakeliteor other suitable material. Said body is fashioned at one end thereof with a pair 20 of spaced arm 6 and at the opposite end with a hand grip l integrally formed with the arms 6 and provided with a centrally disposed slot 8 communicating between the arms 6. The opposing faces or walls of the slot 8 adjacent the 25 jointure of the-grip I with the arms 6 are fashioned with a pair of trunnions 9 on which is pivoted one end of a swingable arcuate shaped member iii, the opposite end of said member being integrally fashioned With a finger piece ll 30 normally adapted to lie against the hand grip l as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The member ID is formed with a forwardly disposed notch 12 at the jointure of the finger piece H with the body portion of said member. The free ends of 35 the arms 6 are fashioned with similar notches 13 whereby to receive therethrough a rubber band [4 which is secured through the notch l2 of the member ID. Obviously, when the finger piece II is moved into engagement with the hand grip l 40 as illustrated in Figure 3, the rubber band I4 is stretched across the upper ends of the arms 6 and between the latter and the notch l2, thereby enabling the band section between the arms 6 to be inserted between the teeth for removing 45 food particles and the like therefrom. when pressure is released from the finger piece H the rubber band serves to actuate the member ID upwardly towards the notched ends of the arms 6 and thereby release the tension on said band to 50 promote longer life thereto and permit replacement thereof.

In the modified form illustrated in Figure 6 the trunnions 20 are fastened on the sides of the swingable member 2| and engage Within sockets 55 formed in the opposing faces of the slot 22 formed in the body 23.

In the modified form illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 a pin 30 extends through the body 3| and swingable member 32 and serves to pivot the latter to said body. In this construction a relatively short slot 33 is formed in the body adjacent the arms 34 and terminates in a recess 35 which accommodates the swingable member 36. Said swingable member is of a configuration relative to the end of the hand grip 31 as to permit the finger piece 38 on the member 36 to be swung towards the hand grip 31 a sufiicient distance to move the stretched band 39 secured through the notches 40 in the arms 34 and notch 4| in the member 36 past the pin 30 whereby the tension of the band 39 will maintain the finger piece 38 in engagement with the hand grip 3'! as clearly illustrated in Figure 8.

As illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 the holder is of a one piece construction fashioned with spaced arms integrally connected to one end of the hand grip 5| and the free ends of said arms are fashioned with notches 52 through which is trained the rubber band 53. Intermediate the ends thereof, the hand grip 5! is fashioned with a plurality of inwardly and upwardly extending spaced notches 54, one of which is adapted to accommodate a section of the band 53 and maintain the latter in stretched condition between the arms 50. The tension of the band may be varied by positioning the latter into another of the notches 54.

In the preferred and modified forms it will be noted that the notches on the ends of the spaced arms are recessed in a circular and enlarged manner at the base and that said arms are of a relatively elongated construction and due to said construction are of an inherent resiliency responsive to the pressure of the cleaning elements when in contact with the teeth. When the cleaning elements are in cleaning position between the arms and actuated between the teeth, they develop an axial rotary movement which is due to the narrow planes thereof being presented in the cavities between the teeth and the resiliency or vibration of the arms tend to pulsate and vibrate said cleaning elements and thereby impart supplemental partial turn and reciprocal movement to the cleaning elements during cleaning operations which results in efiiciently removing foreign matter from between the teeth.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the character described, comprising, a holder fashioned with a pair of spaced resilient arms fashioned on the ends thereof with notches and with a hand grip integrally connected to said holder, a swingable member pivoted to said holder between said grip and arms and fashioned with a notch adapted to receive an elastic cleaning element trained through said first mentioned notches in a manner whereby movement of said member in one direction serves to stretch a section of said element between said arms and movement of said member in an opposite direction serves to permit removal of said element for said holder for replacement.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, a holder fashioned with a pair of spaced resilient arms formed on the ends thereof with notches and with a hand grip integrally connected to said arms; and a section having a finger piece and hinged on said holder, between said arms and grip, said section provided with a notch adapted to receive a cleaning element trained through the first mentioned notches in a manner to maintain a section of said member normally taut between said arms.

3. A device of the character described, comprising, a holder fashioned with a pair of spaced resilient arms formed on the ends thereof with notches and with a hand grip connected to said arms; a section having a finger piece and hinged on said holder, between said arms and grip, said section provided with a notch; and an elastic cleaning element within said last mentioned notch h and trained through the first mentioned notches in a manner to maintain a section of said member stretched between said arms and clamped to the latter.

AMEDEE GOULET. 

